Torpedo-boat.



H. MAXIM.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLIOATION IILBD NOV. 21, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I Patented June 4, 1912.

COLUMBIA PIJNonRAPn co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

H. MAXIM.

I TORPEDO BOAT. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1908.

1,028,473, Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CDLUMIIA PLAIIOG IAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

.H. MAXIM. TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. C.

HUDSON MAXIM, OF HOPATCONG BOROUGH, NEW JERSEY.

TORPEDO-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Application filed November 21, 1908. Serial No. 463,828.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUDSON MAXIM, of theborough of Hopatcong, county of SusseX, State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Torpedo- Boats, which inventionis fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in torpedo-boats, and hasfor its object mainly to provide a torpedo craftwhich shall be capableof passing safely through the danger Zone of a battleship or other warvessel, to attack it with a sufficient quantity of high explosives toinsure its destruction, and shall be capable of running close in uponthe war vessel to plant the high eX- plosive charge in a desiredposition or to ram the warship with a high explosive warhead below thearmored protection.

In carrying out the invention, the torpedo-boat is constructed somewhaton the lines of the usual submarine boat, that is to say, it is capableof traveling either upon the surface of the water or in a submerged orsemi-submerged position. When the boat is in a submerged position, it istied tothe surface of the water and maintained at a definitepredetermined depth by a flotation superstructure in the form of a longrib or flange running along the whole or nearly the whole length of thetop of the boat. This superstructure consists of a thin metallic casingwith the space within partitioned off by thin sheet metal into smallcompartments and the compartments filled with cellulose or other lightflotation ma terial. This superstructure is from three to four feet orso in thickness at its rearward end and gradually tapers forward to asharp edge; and near the rearward end of the torpedo-boat and extendingupward through this superstructure is provided a conning tower and shaftconnecting with the interior of the torpedo-boat. The conning tower isjust large enough for one man to stand in in an erect position andextends above the flotation superstructure but a short distance, merelyenough to provide an out look over the superstructure through eyeholesprovided for that purpose. The conning tower is armor-platedsufliciently thick to resist the penetration of projectiles from smallquick-firing guns.

The bottom of the torpedo-boat is provided with a wide keel running thelength of'the craft. Port holes along each side of the vessel areprovided for air and outlook when traveling upon the surface of thewater, as under normal conditions, that is to say, except when strikinga zone of danger or going into action; and these ports are capable ofbeing quickly closed water-tight 1 when the boat is submerged foraction.

Under normal conditions and when cruising in its over-water position,the boat is preferably driven by gasolene or oil engines, and when goinginto action it is preferably driven by the combined energy of thegasolene engines and the products of combustion of motorite and steamcommingled actuating turbines which transmit the energy throughpropellers. The gasolene engine machinery is provided with a shift gear,so. that when running at high speed by the combined energy of thegasolene engines and the motorite, the speed of the propellers driven bythe gasolene engines may be increased to correspond. The torpedo-boat isalso provided with any suitable means for taking on and dischargingwater very quickly for its submergence and emergence, for example suchas that described in my patent application Serial Number 361,395, filedMarch 8, 1907, in which the water is taken on at or near the forward endby being forced into an interior compartment or compartments runninglengthwise of the craft and extending downward toward the stern, meansbeing provided for opening or closing quickly and at will either theinlet or the outlet. The outlet being located immediatelyforward of thepropellers at the stern, the discharge of water is accelerated by thesuction of the screws; This system enables the water to be taken on veryquickly owing to the inertia of the water under the momentum of the boatwhen traveling forward, the same as locomotives take on waterfrom atrough running along between the tracks; and the water is capable ofbeing discharged from the compartments very quickly by thecombinedaction of'gravity and the suction of the propellers.

, The boat is provided witha long extension to the bow portion whichmaybe either tubular or of any other desired shape. The length of thisforward extension is preferably half as great as the length of thetorpedo-boat proper, or longer. For example, when the torpedo-boat isone hundred andfifty feet long, the forward exten sion is preferably ahundred feet long. The front end of the forward extension forms awarhead carrying a large quantity of high explosive, from one ton to tentons or more, according to the size of the torpedo-boat. The forwardextension preferably consists of a steel casing sufficiently strong forstructural rigidity and braced inside for additional support. For; athird or more of the length of the forward extension and im mediatelyback of the warhead, it is filled with water in order to tamp the highexplosive and to direct the blast forward against the battleship and toprevent too severe a reaction backward toward the torpedo-boat; and anopen space or air space is providedfor flotation purposes between thecompartment and the bow proper of the torpedo-boat.

I may employ one water compartment and one air compartment back of thewater com partment in the forward extension, or I may employ a watercompartment immediately behind the warhead and an air compartmentimmediately back of that, and another water compartment or more, with analternate air compartment or compartments for the remainder of thelength of the forward extension.

Running lengthwise through the center of the bow extension is provided atube, within which is mounted another tube connected with the warheadand closed at its rearward portion and adapted to be thrown forwardeither by a gunpowder charge, or by compressed air, or the products ofcombustion of motorite, or by any other suitable means, so that oncoming within close range of a battleship or other war vessel, that isto say, within one hundred and fifty feet or less, the warhead may bethrown forward and brought in contact with the warship and exploded,thereby providing a space of one hundred and fifty feet or so betweenthe torped0-boat proper and the warhead when exploded, thus minimizingthe risk to the torpedo-boat.

Mounted within thewarhead is an auxiliary explosive charge, which iscapable of being thrown forward in advance of the warhead in a mannersimilar to that with which the warhead itself is thrown forward, so thatwhen a battleship is surrounded by a torpedo netting, this smallerwarhead or explosive charge may be thrown forward against the netting todestroy it or provide an aperture through which the main warhead mayeasily pass to the hull of the war vessel. When, however, there is nosuch torpedo netting, then the warhead, and the auxiliaryor smallerexplosive charge, may be thrown forward together and explodedsimuitaneously against the hull of the war vesse r Both the auxiliary.explosive charge and thewarhead are adapted to be exploded either uponimpact or by an electric circuit arranged in any proper manner andcontrolled from the. conning tower.

. Unless a very large quantity of explosive be carried in the warhead,it will not be necessary to throw the warhead forward against thebattleship or other war vessel in order to preserve the torpedo-boatitself from destruction, for the action of the explosive being on thelines of least resistance, will be through the hull and upward throughthe war vessel rather'than backward through the mass of water toward thetorpedo-boat. And although the torpedo boat will have its dispensablebow projection blown away, the torpedo-boat proper will not be injured,but will be thrown somewhat V violently backward upon a large wave whichwill militate to its safety as the battleship goes down. After thetorpedo warhead has been launched and exploded, the torpedoboat withengines reversed may retreat with V safety.

The accompanying drawings illustrate practical embodiments of theinvention, in which drawings:

Figures 1 and 2, are respectively a plan and side elevation of theimproved torpedoboat. Figs. 3 and 4, are similar views of the same boatwith a change in the lines and construction of the forwardportion.thereof. Fig.

5, is an enlarged sectional elevation of the forward or dispensableportion of the boat. Fig. 6, is an enlarged elevation partly in sectionof the forward or dispensable portion of the boat, the auxiliary headcontaining an explosive charge being shown in its projected position.Fig. 7, is a similar view with the warhead and auxiliary explosive headboth shown in their forward projected position. Fig. 8, is an enlargeddetail elevation of the piston head of the warhead,

projecting tube and rod of-the auxiliary explosive head.

Referring to said drawings Figs. 1 and 2, the improved torpedo-boat A isconstructed on lines similar to a submarine'boat of the v a singlestructure, although, as in Figs. 3

to 7, the two portions or hulls may be more or less separated butrlgidly un ted to act and maneuver as a sin le structure.

The boat is provided with a flotation structure U, of comparativelynarrow Widthwise dimensions, extending along the length of the top ofthe boat proper with'a tapering front end, which structure is of thinmetal with its interior space above the deck of the boat provided withmany thin metal partitions a, forming separate closed compartmentsfilled with cellulose or other flotation material I), as indicated inFig. 5. Near the stern of the boat and at the rearward end of thesuperstructure is the projecting end of a conning tower E, connect ingwith the interior of the boat and with sight openings 6 for the operatorin said tower; all the necessary operating levers, steering gear andother contrivanoes for the manipulation of the boat and its containedmechanism being within convenient reach.

The bottom of the boat has a deep fin or keel F extending preferablysubstantially the full length of the entire structure, and may be in twosections, the forward part of the dispensable bow portion bolted orotherwise jointed to the hull of the boat as by bolts is, accessible fordetachment from the inside of the hull, aswhen,for instance, the saidbow portion has become disabled or wrecked upon the explosion of thewarhead or from other causes. Port holes G, are provided along the sidesof the craft for air and outlook when traveling upon the surface of thewater, which port-holes may be quickly closed and sealed when the boatis submerged.

A suitable engine H, adapted for gasolene or oil, is provided (Fig. 3)for driving the boat under normal conditions through the usual twinpropellers and with a motorite combustion device and turbine I, ada tedalso for connection with said prope lers when the boat is submerged andgoing into action. The motorite is a self-combustive fuel of a characterset forth in my United States Letters Patent Number 77 8,7 88, combustedin the presence of water to form steam, which, with the products ofcombustion of the motorite, forms a motor fluid for driving an engine orfor jet propulsion in manner set forth in my pending application, SerialNumber 420,084, filedMarch 9, 1908. The hull of the boat proper isformed with longitudinal side chambers or compartment-s J, for taking onand discharging water quickly for submerging and raising the boat, whichmay be operated in any desired manner, as, for instance, thatparticularly described in my said pending application, Serial Number361,395. The forward extension or dispensable bow portion or hull B, ispreferably of tubular or other suitable form of thin metal properlyconnectedv with the main hull of the boat to form a rigid structuretherewith and yet a dispensable one, which forward hull is braced andstrengthened laterally and longitudinally as warhead; the nextcompartment 0, an air chamber for buoyancy; and still anothercompartment P, for another water compartment if deemed desirable. Thesepartitions are preferably bow or conical shaped with the apex directedforward as best seen in Fig. 5 to better deflect the blast when thewarhead is exploded. Other braces and stays may be employed, as, forinstance, the stay Z2 and the side braces f.

The extension or dispensable bow portion is formed with a tubular casing10, extending from the hull of the boat forward to the warhead, withinwhich casing is mounted a tube 11, connected with the rear of thewarhead and extending rearward with a piston or head 12 (see Fig. 8)within a cylinder 13, mounted in the bow of the hull of the boat asin'Fig. 5. The auxiliary explosive head is seated in a recess in thefront of the warhead and is connected to a rod 14 mounted within thetube 11 and extending rearward with a piston or head 15, (see Fig. 8) inthe central cavity of the cylinder 13. Pressure supply pipes 8, 9, leadfrom some suitable source of supply to said cylinder 13, controlled byvalves 6, 7 for projecting the warhead and auxiliary head at the propertimes, either the auxiliary head independently of the warhead, as inFig.6, or both of said heads as a unit as in Fig. 7. The heads of the tube11 and rod 14 meet shoulders at the end of their forward travel,preventing their detachment fromthe forward hull or dispensable portion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a torpedo boat, the combination of the hull of the boat, adispensable bow portion or compartment, an explosive charge in theforward end thereof, and a tamping material in said bow portion betweensaid explosive charge and the bow of the torpedoboat proper.

2. In a torpedo-boat, the combination of the hull of the boat, adispensable bow portion or compartment, an explosive charge in theforward end thereof, and a water-filled compartment in said bow portionbetween said explosive charge and the bow of the torpedo-boat proper.

3. In a torpedo-boat, the combination of a dispensable bow portion orextension, having a high explosive charge in its forward end, alternatecompartments filled with air and water interposed between the highexplosive charge and the bow of the torpedoboat.

4. A torpedo-boat consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end toend, a warhead carried by the forward hull and an extensible auxiliaryexplosive head.

5. A torpedo'boat, consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end toend, an extensible warhead carried by the forward hull, and an auxiliaryexplosive head carried at the front of the warhead.

6. A torpedo-boat, consisting of two hulls united longitudinally end toend, an extensible warhead carried by the forward hull, and anextensible auxiliary explosive head mounted in the front of the warhead.V

7. A torpedo-boat, having a warhead and a forwardly movable auxiliaryexplosive head.

8. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow forward extension, a warhead at theforward end of the extension, and aconical partition in the extensionbehind the warhead.

9. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, awarhead carried by said extension, and a water compartment in theextension behind the warhead.

10. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, awarhead carried by said extension and water and buoyancy chambers behindthe warhead.

11. A torpedo-boat, having a hollow or tubular forward extension, awarhead cartaking the lines of a single structure, said dispensable hullbeing provided with a warhead.

14. A torpedo-boat comprising two hulls one of which is dispensable andboth partaking the lines of a single structure, said dispensable hullbeing provided with a warhead and an extensible auxiliary explosiveheadmounted in the front of said warhead.

15. A torpedo boat, having a warhead and an auxiliary explosive head,means for projecting both the warhead and the auxiliary head forwardlybeyond the boat and means for projecting the auxiliary head beyond thewarhead.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HUDSON MAXIM. Witnesses L. D. LA FORGE, GEO. H. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

